Brexit: 28 days later

A young French citizen shares her concerns for the future of the EU following the Brexit vote

This is an opinion of a young person and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of SpunOut.ie. It is one person's experience and may be different for you. If you'd like to write something for SpunOut.ie please contact editor@spunout.ie.

Funded by the European Parliament

Share this article -

It was the story of a man who thought he was cleverer than everyone. He was very proud and sure of himself and of his tricky game with the most conservative of his colleagues. In the end, this man resigned in front of all the media from all over the world and began to understand that he had carried out a radical change in the destiny of his country.

This man, David Cameron, has played a dangerous game. More hopeless and frightening than the political mess which has followed this terrible vote, it is the situation for all workers and students in the United Kingdom.

Indeed, the European Union appears to be not only a financial organisation benefiting the City; it is more than the promotion of economic and financial interests as those in favor of the “stay in” and especially the Tories, were using in their speeches in a very hazardous way.

The European Union is certainly the freedom of goods, services, capital but also people. The English Labour party, in the person of Jeremy Corbyn, tried to defend this idea. The European Union is not only about an economical system which exists but also about people trying to be part of a more noble organisation working in the interest of the European citizens.

The fact is the European Union was protecting British workers. Many of the EU regulations provided for the British worker’s rights to defend a minimum working time, and others social rights. In fact, EU regulations were protecting social rights that the Tories and the most conservative members of the parliament were attacking for years.

The European Union was protecting students when they wanted to study under good conditions, having access to health care, having access to social rights, and scholarships. The European Union was protecting students from abroad who were coming from countries in other parts of the European Union. Above all, it was protecting British students when they were studying in some universities.

The fact is the European Union was protecting the unity of the United Kingdom. The majority of the voters in Scotland and Northern Ireland were in favor of the “stay in” campaign. The prime minister of Scotland was not hesitating one minute for pushing in favor of a “stay in” for Scotland alone and hinting at another referendum on the independence of Scotland. What about Ireland? What about the peace settlement and the idea of a country unified playing football at the European cup under one flag?

As a French citizen, I cannot deny that the Brexit was a relief in some ways. The settlement signed by David Cameron a few days before the referendum was damaging albeit more so for the EU organisation. But as a left wing activist, and a convinced activist of the European Union, which is the same, I stay very concerned for the defense of social rights; heal rights access, family rights for workers and students in the United Kingdom.